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J. BENEDICT. PAN 0R TRAY FOR BERRY HARVBSTBRS.

No. 370,368. Patented Sept. 27. 1887.

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lJNtTEn STATES PATENT Fries.

PAN O TRAY FOR BERRY-HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,368, dated September 27, 1887.

Application filed March 21, 1887. Serial No. 231,747. (No model.)

ice, clearly set forth hereinafter and claimed.

The invention in this case is an improved form of pan to be used in the apparatus claimed in a pending application filed by me on August 11, 1886, and bearing the serial number 210,629, the features of the improvement being fully described hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

' which- Figure l is a perspective view of the device in the operative position. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the tray. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line .00 w of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line y y of Fig. 2.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates the frame of the tray, comprising the perpendicular sides B, converging toward the upper side of the tray, the upper strip, 0, and the lower board, D.

E represents a flexible bottom secured to the lower edges of the said frame, formed of duck, canvas, or equivalent material, and thus forming the tray, which is deeper at the lower side than at the upper, as clearly shown in the drawings.

piece secured across the back of the frame in rear of the flexible bottom E,-and at the lower side of the said frame, and the function of this strip or board is to sustain the weight of the berries when a great number have been accumulated in the tray, and prevent the straining or bulging of the said bottom E. It will be seen that the said bottom will not rest against the brace-board when the tray is empty, nor until a considerable quantity of berries have been collected, and therefore the berries which are first deposited in the tray will not come in contact with any hard or unyielding substance, but will strike upon the flexible bottom, as explained. In order to prevent the said yielding bottom from resting against the brace-board at all times, the upper edge of the said board is sprung or warped rearward, thus drawing it out of the line of the bottom.

The lower side of the tray is designed to be placed near the bush from which the berries are to be taken, and the limbs of the said bush are drawn over the tray by means of ahooked rod, H, and the berries gently tapped with the beater K, which comprises a handle secured to one side of a frame, elliptical or circular in form, having a canvas web stretched tightly therein, the said berries being allowed to drop into the tray.

With the beater as described, having a yielding spring-like body, the bushes may be gently jarred to detach the ripe berries without disturbing those which are still unripe, and the fruit thereby detached drops upon the flexible bottom of the tray and rolls down to the lower part thereof, to accumulate in the deep portion provided therefor.

From the above description it will be readily understood that with this berry-harvester fruit may be gathered very rapidly and with- .out the slightest injury to the same.

The device is also extremely simple, it being impossible to dispense with any part thereof and still preserve its effectiveness.

Having described my invention, I claim-- 1. The pan for berry-gatherers, having the sides B B, having their greatest height at the front portion of the gathering pan or receptacle, where it rests on the ground, the end strip, 1), the canvas bottom E, the brace G, and the runner F, connected to the lower edge of the strip D, and extending rearward therefrom and at an angle thereto, substantially as described.

2. The pan for berry-gatherers, having the sides B 13, having their greatest height at the front or lower portion of the gathering pan or receptacle, where it rests on the ground, the

end strips, D, the flexible cloth bottom E, the brace G under the bottom and depressed from the ends toward the center, for the purpose set forth, and the runner F, secured to the lower edge'of strip D, and extending rearward therefrom at an angle thereto, as set forth.

3. A pan for berry-harvesters, having the frame with the canvas bottom E and the sides and ends extending up from the bottom, and a transverse brace-strip, G, under the bottom, near the lower end thereof, where the frame rests on the ground, said strip being depressed on each side toward its center, as and for the purpose set forth. a

4. A pan for berry-gatherers, having the frame comprising the sides 13, the front end piece, D, and the rear end piece, 0, with a canvas bottom, E, between the parts 0 B D, and the transverse brace-strip G under the bottom, adjacent to the front end piece, D, said strip being depressed from each side toward the center, where its greatest point of depression comes, for the purposes set'forth. I

5. A pan for berry-harvesters, having the sides B,having their greatest height at the front or lower end, .where the pan or tray rests on the ground, the end strip, D, the flexible cloth bottom E, and the runner F, composed of a rigid strip secured to the end strip and inclined rearward therefrom at an angle thereto,

as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JEWETT BENEDICT.

Witnesses: 1

W. BENEDICT, H. V. L. J oNEs. 

